Herpes? Help!

     Hi.  I'm 28 years old and have had bad acne since the age of 14.  In the back of my head since I was 14 I always thought I was born with Herpes.  All my derm doctors over the years have laughed at me and said I don't have Herpes.  I get cystic acne on my neck, behind my ears and now I have one on the front of my leg.  Also I had one on my lower belly a year ago, yet the red mark from it is still there.  I understand Herpes comes and goes, so maybe i'm crazy in thinking this could be Herpes related?  A few weeks, but months?  Does Herpes last this long in anyone???
     It's been a constant battle with acne on my back and chest for over a decade now.  I've been throu many different doctors over the years... Part of me thinks if I had Herpes, that over the years one of these doctors would tell me!  But the idea that no one has ever thought that makes me wonder if i'm totally making up this accusation.  Herpes looks different on everyone and can sometimes look like a pimple?  But again, these "pimple like herpes" would go away after their outbreak?  Not linger for months and months??  Also, about 2 years ago my acne branched out to me having a few small little very itchy red marks right around the center of my stomach.  They also had a scale like skin around them.  Ingrown hairs?  Now 2 years later, they seem to be spreading around the front of my stomach.  Yet they never go away and itch like crazy!  Aagain, if this were a form of herpes wouldn't they go away at some point??  I'm concerned that they seem to be spreading now and really itch.  My doctors don't seem worried about them, but I am!  Sorry if I keep saying the same thing over, but seriously, if this were Herpies (herpes) it would go away and come back, right?  I would be happy to take pictures and post, but I'd rather not post directly on here.  I hope a doctor is reading this, and maybe I can email you pictures of this "rash"   Thanks!!

[gracefromHHP]

herpes doesn't look at all like cystic acne. you have absolutely no reason to doubt what you've been told.

you could have hsv1 orally, most of us do pick it up at some point but even if you do, it's not the cause of all your acne symptoms.

you'd know we don't look at pictures if you had read our read before posting post ;)

grace

[ocean1982]

Hi.  Thanks for the reply... Yeah, i'm pretty confused.  I suspect i've had HSV1 all my life, because my lips have not felt right at times.  I know a lot, if not most have it, so i'm not worried about that.  I just thought maybe the HSV1 virus was causing other problems for me..  Like the cause of my acne, a way of releasing the virus?  But again, HSV1 or 2, it DOES go away after a while, then come back?  Right?  I've had bad acne for 10 plus years on my back and chest, and they NEVER go away it seems.  I read something about Herpes Rash which looks like what I have.. But again, it says it goes away in 7 to 10 days.  These things itch like crazy and seem to be spreading... Thanks for your thoughts.

[gracefromHHP]

I assume you are sexually active. why not get a type specific herpes igg blood test to see what your status is and be done with it? it's information you and your partners need to know anyways.

you've been seen by dermatologists who don't feel that your symptoms are due to herpes. continue to follow up with them as needed.

grace